Former White House lawyer accused of attempted murder to be released on bond

John Nickerson, john.nickerson@scni.com

Published
11:19 am EDT, Friday, June 4, 2010

Former White House attorney John Michael Farren will be released on $750,000 bond Monday and will immediately be sent to a private specialty hospital in Hartford for an undetermined period, his attorney said.

Appearing before Judge Richard Comerford, Farren, a New Canaan resident whom police said brutally beat his wife with a flashlight after she pressed for a divorce in January, signed a paper specifying 10 conditions of his release that will keep him under lock and key at the Institute of Living until he completes treatment.

Farren, 57, of 388 Wahackame Road, was arrested Jan. 6, after his wife Mary pushed a panic button in their mansion and fled to a neighbor's home with her two children still in pajamas. The former deputy counsel to President George W. Bush was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault and first-degree strangulation and held in lieu of $2 million bond.

Comerford said with the signed agreement, he will reduce Farren's bond to $750,000 on Monday when he is to come to Stamford for his release. Comerford asked if he would be taken directly to the well-known hospital after his release. His attorneys answered said he would.

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For nearly the first time since his arrest, Farren came to court without a beard. He is being held at Garner Correctional Facility -- a high security prison in Newtown for those with mental health problems.

According to the agreement, which was placed in Farren's court file following his hearing, the hospital must hold him for 72 hours if he decides to leave.

The hospital must immediately notify the Stamford state's attorney's office and the bail commissioner of Farren's intention to leave.

Once his treatment is complete, he will remain under house arrest at a private home in West Hartford and will be outfitted with a GPS tracking device under the direction of the bail commissioner.

Farren will not be allowed to travel beyond 20 miles of the home and will have to notify the bail commissioner of the purpose, destination and duration of the trip.

He may only leave to visit a doctor or attorney or other experts in preparation of his case, for court appearances, to attend religious services and to visit a law library in Hartford.

The agreement also states that there will be an order prohibiting him from contacting his wife, children or any of his wife's relatives.

During his appearance, Farren's defense attorney, Eugene Riccio, said he reserved the right to argue for modifications of the agreement.

Comerford agreed.

After the hearing, Andrew Bowman, the attorney for Mary Farren, declined comment; he said he would talk about the agreement in the future.